The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-08
/ some will be dissatisfied even after

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that"
what conclusion will the com
mission be likely TO reach?"
THAT | cannot say. The commits
sion is composed Of sensible and fair
minded men, who, 10 my Judgment,
will do what is for the best interests
of the country, regardless OF the
power Of politicians, and some East
ern and Western men, including rail
road people, who want the law en-
for eea. "
why do many Of the railroads of
the East and West want the law en-
forcedY'
That is @ mystery, and can only
be accounted for by the fact that the
interior Of the Fast and West is not
effected as the South by network Of
navigable rivers. This will enable
the long rail lines leading east and
west to enforce the long and short
haul on their weaker rivals or con-
nectioDs by exacting advanced or ar
bitrary rates. In my judgment the
enforcement OF the long and short
haul provision will result in destroy
ing the weaker and shorter lines
which are largely dependent on their
stronger rivals for facilities to reach
the Eastern seab6ard with their traf-
fic. Such short lines az reach lake
ports may survive, but those which
depend on the longer lines for an
outlet will be wrecked"
What do you think of the fourth
section 2"
"As construed by Judge Reagan,
Herr Most never put forward more
damnable doctrine. The spirit of
communism runs all through it. If
it means what Judge Eagan claims
it to mean, it calls for the leveling
process which is to rob me and give
TO another. The bill thus construed
would rob the city of Memphis and
the merchants of this city of the
benefits OF their geographical loca-
tion and all they have industriously
labored for years to acquire, and
give them TO others: and this, too,
in the absence of any demand from
the people OF the interior. The
people Of the South are not com
munists; they are honest and seDsi-
BILE, and want only what is justly
their due. This fact has been fully
demonstrated by the numerous ap.
peals and petitions in favor of sus-
pension Of the clause from nearly all
the smaller interior towns.
But is Judge Reagan's oonstruo-
ton the proper oneY'
"Assuredly not. The long and
short haul provisions OF the bill APP
ply alone to shipments made under
like circumstances and conditions,
which cannot be claimed where one
shipment is destined to a c0mpeti-
tive and another to local point"
Then why are you asking for re-
lief from the operations OF the fourth
section2"
Mainly because We want 10 show
the proper respect FOR the commits
sion, and in securing relief let that
operate on connecting roads, 80 that
we may be able to continue our
through freight arrangements with
lines, some OF which are afraid TO CO.
operate with US until relief is grant
ed. The whole business Of the South
depends upon through freight ar
rangements fer long distances. What
the South produces goes long dis
tances to find consuming markets,
and what she consumes comes from
distant points. The South is en-.
tirely dependent upon long haul
rates. Her cotton, her pig iron, her
lumber, her cotton seed oil, meal,
etc., must all be transported to dis
tant markets on long haul rates for
consumption. The enforcement of
the act, therefore, even by connect
ing roads. would prove very disas
trous to the South. "
Are there any other hurtful feat
ures OF the aot2"
"Yes; but they are overbalanoed
by the good. The bill prohibits un-
just discrimination aud special priv
ileges between individuals or local
tiles. This, l think, is right. M
railroad company should be permit
ted TO indulge in such nefarious prac-
tees. The bill also prevents extor-
ton, and compels just and reasonable
rates. This. too, all fair minded
railway managers are obliged to ap-
prove"
when do you leave the cityp"
Tomorrow morning, for Hot
Springs, Mrs Stahlman has gone to
spend few weeks"
This terminated the interview, but
pleasant conversation over many
other foreign subjects followed, alter
which the reporter departed to give
the great railroad defender an oppor-
tunity to prepare his toilet and at
tend the concert at the theater.